The Download: Weight-loss drugs, carbon dioxide batteries, and AI reasoning

The latest edition of MIT Technology Review's 'The Download' highlights significant developments in biotechnology and climate tech. Drugmakers Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk report that GLP-1 weight-loss medications may potentially slow biological aging, as indicated by molecular aging clocks. In the energy sector, Energy Dome is gaining attention for its innovative use of compressed carbon dioxide to store renewable energy, offering a scalable alternative to traditional battery storage. Additionally, the newsletter features a critical perspective from former DeepMind researcher Thore Graepel, who argues that modern large language models lack true reasoning capabilities compared to earlier architectures like AlphaGo. The roundup also covers OpenAI’s recent math breakthroughs, Mistral’s new open-weight model, and regulatory challenges facing Google’s data center expansion in Finland. These stories underscore the rapid pace of innovation across AI, health, and sustainable infrastructure.